Hogan to Push Paid Sick Leave for Bigger Businesses in Maryland

State laws supporting paid sick leave have been gaining traction around the country. In Maryland, the legislature has tried to pass a bill for three years, but couldn’t get it through. For next year, Gov. Larry Hogan has his own proposal.

Hogan said Wednesday he is set to offer legislation that requires businesses with more than 50 employees to offer at least 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. Part-time employees would also be covered after working 30 hours.

One point of contention in the past has been whether smaller businesses would be required to offer leave. Hogan said they would not be required under his plan, but could be eligible for tax credits.

He said the legislation is intended to be a “common sense” approach that “benefits our workers while also protecting our small business job creators.”

If businesses want to have offer more generous paid sick leave to employees, the state would not interfere. That would also include all of Montgomery County, which has a law offering up to 56 hours a year and requires any business with 5 or more employees to offer leave.